First impressions from Thursday’s first official presidential “debate” of the looooong 2012 season. The lineup: GOPers who have jumped in the presidential ring.

Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico

I want to like him, but he acted too much like an earnest professor (or worse, kindergarten-class teacher), often clasping his hands. He spoke a lot of sense, but got energized only when he was talking about the so-called war on drugs. He earns demerits for using the hackneyed term, “common sense,” twice in his closing remarks.

Ron Paul, Congressman from Texas

The only candidate with a significant cheering section in the room. Does this mean he has a good chance of getting the nomination – or just that his supporters are especially motivated? Give him credit for sticking to his principles, no matter how politically inconvenient they may be. I like his insistence on reminding people the inconvenient question: Is our government acting in a Constitutional fashion? On the other hand, his Federal Reserve obsession strikes me as misplaced, as if it alone is the cause of our fiscal problems.

Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza

If you like your presidential candidate to be someone with experience as a business executive – understandable in the Age of The Tough Nerd, but not necessarily a valid predictor of political success – Herman Cain, not Donald Trump, is your guy. Good voice. Incidentally, the only southern voice.

Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota

I’ve seen him so much. Yet I find so little to say. I give him marks for saying “I’ve made a mistake” on his support for cap-and-trade legislation. He’s still charisma-challenged, which is fine for a gubernatorial candidate. But a presidential one? Only candidate to end his pitch by mentioning his website. Another abuser of the dreaded (and empty) “common sense.”

Rick Santorum, former senator from Pennsylvania

Stiff when he wasn’t speaking about abortion or marriage.

NOTES: Religious beliefs continue to be a “gotcha” topic. Juan Williams prefaced a round of questions saying it would be about jobs and the economy – but when the wheel turned to Tim Pawlenty, demanded to know the governor’s view on creationism and evolution.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110506/MIVIEW/105060396/LaPlante–GOP-Smackdown–Round-One#ixzz1LbSlyUQ4